Organisation

SERN has three main specificities that makes it a unique example of transnational cooperation:
1) it is the only bilateral network in the European Union that brings together actors from the Northern and Southern part of the Union.
2) It is a multilevel network where different levels of government interact and collaborate
3) It is a network open to the civil society and to the private actors
SERN aims at creating long-term dynamics of cooperation among the areas involved by:
- exchanging information, know-how and people
- exchanging best practices in local policy-making
- fostering economic links and interdependence

Legally the newtork is a non-profit transnational association and has its official seat in Bologna (Italy). The statute of the association approved in 2005 and last modified in April 2009 sets out the institutional structure of the organisation.

 

The General Assembly

The General Assembly is the highest authority of the Network and have power to take decisions concerning all the activities of the Network. In particular, it is within the competence of the General Assembly to:
1. Decide about the Statute of the Network and the rules of procedure for the General Assembly;
2. Elect the Executive Board for a two-year-period;
3. Decide the membership fees of the Network;
4. Approve the budget and the auditor's report;
5. Elect the Board of Audit for a two-year-period;
6. Approve the strategic guidelines of the Network proposed by the Executive Board;
7. Approve the annual report on the activities of the Network.
The General Assembly is constituted by all the members of the Network. It is to be held at least once a year, no later than 30 June, either in Sweden or in Italy. The Assembly is chaired by the Chairperson of the Executive Board.

The Executive Board

In the time between the sessions of the General Assembly the Executive Board is the Network’s highest authority.

The Executive Board is composed by 22 members, 11 for each country. The members of the Board are Roberta Mori (Province of Reggio Emilia), Karen Visani (Rimini Mun.), Elettra Stamboulis (Ravenna Mun.), Gianpaolo Amadori (Bertinoro Mun), John Leech (Forlì Mun.), Gabriele Ferrari(Parma Province), Gianluca Manelli (Scandiano Mun.), Mario Marini(Parma Mun.)and Francesco Trivelloni(Unione Terre Verdiane), Gert-Inge Andersson(Trollhättan Mun.), Lisbeth Årgårdh(Mölndal Mun.), Alex Bergstrom (Region Vastra Gotaland), Marie Dahlin(Vanersborg Mun.), Li Teske(Nörrkoping Mun.), Eva Andersson (Nörrkoping), Jan Owe Larsson (Östsam), Kent Ögren (Norrbotten County Council), Jerry Johansson (Arvidsjaur Mun.), Anna Hovenmark(Jokkmokk Mun.)and Ake Eltoft (County Council Norrbotten).
The Region Emilia-Romagna is a permanent invitee at the meetings of the Executive Board.

The members are political representatives of the local and regional authorities belonging to the Network.
The Executive Board implements the strategic guidelines approved by the General Assembly. In particular, it shall be within the competence of the Executive Board to:
1. Formulate and adopt internal regulations of the Network;
2. Formulate and propose the budget of the Network;
3. Appoint a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson among its members who shall not be of the same nationality and shall be chosen on a rotating basis among the Swedish and the Italian members of the Executive Board.
4. Indicate the priority areas for the Network;
5. Decide upon the location of the Network Secretariat;
6. Prepare annually a final report on the activities carried out in the framework of the Network.
7. Appoint the staff of the Secretariat upon proposal of the Chairperson.

The Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson

Kent Ogren and Roberta MoriThe Chairperson of the SERN Executive Board is the legal representative of the organisation. The first chairman of the Board between January 2005 and April 2009 has been Kent Ögren from the County Council of Norrbotten (Sweden). The Chairman is elected for a two-year-mandate. Elected in 2005 he has been confirmed for a new mandate.





Currently the Chairperson is Roberta MoriRoberta Mori of the Province of Reggio Emilia (picture on the left)). The Chairperson has the responsability to lead the General Assembly, when in Session, and to oversee the activities of the Secretariat of the Network.

The Vice Chairperson elected in April 2009 is Li Teske the political representative of the Municipality of Nörrkoping.
The two representatives compose the Presidium that meeets in case of urgent decisions need to be taken between the Board meetings.

 

The Board of Auditors

The Board of Audit consists of two Italian and two Swedish members of Network that are not part of the Executive Board.
The Board of Audit prepares a report concerning the correct and proper use of the resources for the statutory purposes laid in the decisions and acts of the General Assembly and the Executive Board.
The Board of Audit has the right to check and read all books, accountants' files etc. of each organ of the Network. The Board of Audit reports to the General Assembly.
The members of the Board of Auditors are: Mauro Ottavi, Paola Zucchi, Kenneth Backgård(Chairman) and Ulf Eriksson.